Characterization of production and enzyme properties of an endo-β-1,4-glucanase fromBacillus subtilis CK-2 isolated from compost soil

Bacillus subtilis CK-2, isolated from garden organic waste compost, was found to have high hydrolytic activity against carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) due to the secretion of an endo--1,4-glucanase. Enzyme production was related to the sporulation process, and was regulated by the concentration of readily metabolizable carbohydrate in growth medium. Enzyme production did not require CMC or other cellulose containing materials. The endo--1,4-glucanase activity was optimal at pH 5.6–5.8 and at 65 MoC, and achieved thermal stability up to 55 MoC. The activity was inhibited by Hg²⁺. The purified enzyme gave a single band corresponding to a MW of 35.5 kDa on SDS-PAGE, while the Sephadex G-75 chromatography revealed a molecular weight of the active enzyme around 70 kDa, indicating a dimeric form of the active enzyme. The enzyme activity was irreversibly inhibited by SDS. Native PAGE and IEF revealed three different isoelectric forms of the enzyme, all with an identical N-terminal amino-acid sequence.Abbreviations CMC carboxymethylcellulose - DNS dinitrosalicylic - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Models of ontogenetic allometry in cladoceran morphology studies

Ontogenetic variation of morphological traits in cladocerans is usually analysed by a simple allometry function. We found that common cyclomorphic and inducible traits in Bosmina and Daphnia sometimes deviate from simple allometry, however. Consequently, simple allometric analysis may at times be inadequate since important aspects of the ontogenetic development may not be revealed. We suggest that other allometric models should be used more extensively in ontogenetic studies of cladocerans morphology. Especially, complex allometric functions may help analyse the effects of size-selective predation on morphological defence traits when predators prefer prey of intermediate size. Guest editor: Piet Spaak Cladocera: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Cladocera     

Insulin-like growth factor II plays a central role in atherosclerosis in a mouse model.

Insulin-like growth factor II is a fetal promoter of cell proliferation that is involved in some forms of cancer and overgrowth syndromes in humans. Here, we provide two sources of genetic evidence for a novel, pivotal role of locally produced insulin-like growth factor II in the development of atherosclerosis. First, we show that homozygosity for a disrupted insulin-like growth factor II allele in mice lacking apolipoprotein E, a widely used animal model of atherosclerosis, results in aortic lesions that are approximately 80% smaller and contain approximately 50% less proliferating cells compared with mice lacking only apolipoprotein E. Second, targeted expression of an insulin-like growth factor II transgene in smooth muscle cells, but not the mere elevation of circulating levels of the peptide, causes per se aortic focal intimal thickenings. The insulin-like growth factor II transgenics presented here are the first viable mutant mice spontaneously developing intimal masses. These observations provide the first direct evidence for an atherogenic activity of insulin-like growth factor II in vivo.     

Protozoan Infections (Haemogregarines, Trypanosomes) of the Blood of the Gadoid Fish, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Haddock) and Gaidropsaurus cimbrius (Four-Bearded Rockling)

Parasitic protozoans, identified as Haemogregarina aeglefini (Henry), were found in erythrocytes of two gadiform fish, Melanogrammus aeglefinus (haddock) and Gaidropsaurus cimbrius (four-bearded rockling). The latter species also harboured trypanosomes in its blood plasma, and a kind of intracellular parasite-like inclusions in macrophages of the spleen, the pronephros and the liver. Most specimens of Gaidropsaurus cimbrius had leeches ( Callobdella nodulifera ) attached to the skin. A remarkable abundance of blood leucocytes noted in Gaidropsaurus cimbrius may be a response to haematozoan infections.     

Bohartillidae,eine neue Familie der Fächerflügler (Insecta,Strepsiptera)

Für eine neue Strepsiptere aus Honduras, Bohartilla megalognatha, wird eine neue Familie, Bohartillidae, errichtet. Diese läßt sich mit den Myrmecolacidae, Elenchidae und Hylecthridae zu einer natürlichen Gruppe innerhalb der Überfamilie Stylopoidea zusammenfassen.     

Os fossiles humains des grottes Muierii et Cioclovina, Roumanie

This paper presents the cultural and archaeological context of the human fossil bones from Muierii Cave, dated by us to the age of 30 150 ± 800 ¹⁴C years BP (Before Present) or 34 810 ± 927 cal years BP (calibrated years Before Present), and from Cioclovina Cave, dated to the age of 29 000 ± 700 ¹⁴C years BP or 33 540 ± 832 cal years BP, in the Southern Carpathians. These are among the most ancient dated human fossil remains from Central and South-Eastern Europe and are described in conjunction with other sites with Mousterian assemblages of the recent Neanderthal population, and sites with Aurignacian assemblage of early modern humans, from Romanian region, for the interval of time 34,000-26,000, the transitional period from the Middle Paleolithic to the Upper Paleolithic.     

Der BienenfresserMerops apiaster als Klimazeiger: Zum Einflug in Bayern, der Schweiz und Baden im Jahr 1644

Zusammenfassung Anläßlich eines neu aufgefundenen Dokuments von 1644 im Museum Heineanum in Halberstadt werden möglichst alle genau datierten bzw. lokalisierten Nachweise des Bienenfressers (Merops apiaster) nördlich der Alpen in der Zeit zwischen 1500 und 1800 zusammengestellt. Abgleich mit Langzeit-Klimakurven zeigt, daß der Bienenfresser ein empfindlicher Anzeiger für milde Winter und überdurchschnittlich hohe Frühjahrstemperaturen ist. Die enge Korrelation zwischen den Vorstößen der Art nach Mitteleuropa und Klimadaten beweist umgekehrt, daß auffallende Vogelarten auch in älteren Zeiten hinreichend gut dokumentiert sind, sie als historische Bio-Indikatoren zu nutzen.

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The Bee-eaterMerops apiaster as indicator for climatic change. Notes on the invasion in the year 1644 to Bavaria, Switzerland and Baden

The discovery of a document from 1644 in the Museum Heineanum at Halberstadt (Germany) encouraged to collect, so far as possible, all complete records (date, place) of the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) north of the Alps in the period between 1500 and 1800. Comparison with long term climate curbs proved, that the Bee-Eater is a sensitive indicator for mild winters and above-average spring temperatures. On the other hand, the close correlation between climatic factors and the expansion of this species to central Europe is a strong evidence that birds are sufficiently recorded by old historical sources to make use of them as historical bio-indicators.

     

Size Relations of Lymphomyeloid Organs in Some Cartilaginous Fish

In elasmobranchs (sharks, rays) the total weight of lymphomyeloid structures isolated by dissection varied between about 0.6 and 1.0% of the body weight. In a holocephalan (Chimaera) the corresponding value was 1.7%. Reciprocal size relations may exist between different types of lymphomyeloid organs. A thymus was found in adult specimens of rays (Raja) and the rabbit-fish (Chimaera). The lymphomyeloid organs supposedly are active in haemopoiesis and the immune responses.